Our WHAT WE DO page provides more information on the service our counsellors provide, including our person-centred based approach, duration, limits to provision, and our hope to support our local community.

Booking an appointment

We are sorry that, because of increased demand, we have had to take the decision to close our waiting list as our waiting time for counselling is now several months to a year.

This means that we are not currently accepting new referrals. Anyone already on the list will be seen as soon as a suitable counsellor is available, as normal.

We will update this page with news as soon as we are able to take on new clients again.

Appointments are offered on a first-come basis, rather than on the reason for attending. To find out more call us on 01524 389389 – please clearly state your name and number and someone will call you back (usually within the week) to complete a referral form with you.

Clients need to be able to contact us direct, we appreciate this may not always be easy, however we cannot accept referrals on behalf of clients. If you find using the telephone difficult, please email us at info@northlancscounselling.org.uk.

If you are not ready to get in contact with us yet, please have a look at our testimonials page to find out more about what we do and see how others have benefitted from our service.

The Referral Process

When we call you back, we will ask you for some more details, so we can assess whether we can meet your needs and seek to match you with the right Counsellor from our service. At that time, you will be informed about the length of our waiting list, which can only be roughly estimated.

When you contact us, you will be asked whether you are available for face-to-face or video-link counselling. Those seeking face-to-face counselling only, may currently have a longer time to wait. If this is the case and you feel a real urgency, we encourage you to contact your GP and talk to them about it. Unfortunately, we are unable to move urgent cases to the top of the waiting list.

Once an appointment time comes free, your Counsellor will contact you direct to arrange to meet for the first session. If you cannot make the suggested time and day you will go back on the waiting list, until another slot becomes free.

If you are going to meet via video-link, the Counsellor can talk you through how this will work.

Other sources for support can also be found on our USEFUL LINKS page, and The Samaritans are available 24-7 if you need to talk, freephone: 116 123. The charity Mind may also be a good source of support, www.mind.org.uk or 0300 123 3393.

Financial contributions

Appointments are offered free of charge to those who are not able to contribute financially, which is at the client’s discretion. Many of our clients are able to offer a weekly or infrequent donation, and this is always appreciated.

Times

Our appointment times depend on the availability of our volunteers. We usually have appointments available every day of the week, including the weekend, with the first one starting at 9 a.m. and the last one being early evening.

Access

For those accessing face-to-face counselling at our premises on Sulyard Street – there is a council car park next door on Bulk Street, which requires payment. For those able to walk further there is free parking on some side roads further up the hill towards and behind the Gregson Street (Moor Gate area). Please keep an eye out for changes to parking restrictions.

If you have any specific requirements, such as disabled access, let us know and we will do everything we can to accommodate this. We have a ground floor counselling room, which is a step up from the street. The bathroom is on the first floor, and there is no lift.